If you are new to the forums, you must register a free account before you can post. The forums have a separate registration from the rest of www.chronofhorse.com, so your log in information for one will not automatically work for the other. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Chronicle of the Horse.

"Sit on him"

Random question here. I often hear people refer to riding as "sitting on" him (or her.) As in "I sat on Max the other day." Is this just another way of saying riding, or is there ever the implication that someone can't really ride? I ask because I'm genuinely puzzled about this expression, and because it was directed at me the other day. It would seem that "sitting on" a horse means you are riding terribly. Maybe that's just me being self-conscious though.

Two people might go to the same clinic on the weekend. One might come back and tell all their friends "I've started training under Olympic medalist blah blah blah". The other might say "I had a nice weekend. Sat on my young horse."

You can read into it whatever you like, but without knowing the person and the context nobody is going to be able to interpret it for you.

I use that phrase, usually when I'm talking about a light ride. Like if I invest the time and energy into a good ride, I'll say I rode. If I hop on for 20 minutes to hack around on a loose rein, I may say I sat on my horse today.

I've also said it when I'm referring to a new horse I hopped on for a few minutes - "I got to sit on Jane's horse today."

And for a young, just started horse, it means that I have literally done nothing more than gotten up on the back and looked around If I go look at a baby that "has been sat on" I expect little to no steering and probably no knowledge of leg = forward. I only expect that the horse knows that people sit up there.

And for a young, just started horse, it means that I have literally done nothing more than gotten up on the back and looked around If I go look at a baby that "has been sat on" I expect little to no steering and probably no knowledge of leg = forward. I only expect that the horse knows that people sit up there.

This is how I use it. Once a horse can walk around without a backup person on the ground holding him, I'd say he's been lightly started, but before that, if I'm just hanging out up there, he's been sat on.

And for a young, just started horse, it means that I have literally done nothing more than gotten up on the back and looked around If I go look at a baby that "has been sat on" I expect little to no steering and probably no knowledge of leg = forward. I only expect that the horse knows that people sit up there.

My interpretation as well. I sat on Rory several times before he went to the trainer, we even took a spin in the stall.

COTH's official mini-donk enabler

"I am all for reaching out, but in some situations it needs to be done with a rolled up news paper." Alagirl

I use that phrase, usually when I'm talking about a light ride. Like if I invest the time and energy into a good ride, I'll say I rode. If I hop on for 20 minutes to hack around on a loose rein, I may say I sat on my horse today.

I've also said it when I'm referring to a new horse I hopped on for a few minutes - "I got to sit on Jane's horse today."

I wouldn't read a lot into someone saying that, really.

Yes, this. Though instead of "sat on" I just stick w/ the "hopped on."